Compartmented bag and package



July 31, 1956 w. A. ERICKSON ETAL COMPARTMENTED BAG AND PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheei Filed July 20, 1955 July 3l, 1956 w. A. ERICKSON Erm. 2,756,874

COMPARTMENTED BAG AND PACKAGE Filed July 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Shee 2 United States Patent coMPARTt/nnvrm) BAG AND 'PACKAGE Wallace A. Erickson and Daniel .L Gowman, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Wallace A. Erickson & Co., a corporation of Illinois Application July 20, 1955, Serial No. 523,187

18 Claims. (Cl. 20G- 47) This invention relates to a package that is suitable for mixing a plurality of components, and a compartmented bag assembly having 'a compartmented bag capable of serving as a package for a plurailty of components that may be mixed within the bag,

The invention contemplates a package formixing two components without exposing the components to contact with the hands or any implement comprising: a substantially flat bag of any suitable shape having two compartments which are separated by-a transverse dividing line; a component in each of sai-d compartments; a core member extending substantially the full transverse distance across the bag; a removable clamp substantially coextensive in length with said core member engaging said core member over an effective clamping portion of said core and clamping a section of said bag adjacent said dividing line over said core member to form a tight seal between sai-d compartments; and a relief strip positioned between the bag and clamp and extending an effective distance along said clamp and outwardly of said clamp on both its sides whereby the clamp may be stripped from the package, thus disassembling the package, by pulling on opposed ends of the relief strip. Once the clamp is removed from the bag, the components may be mixed within the confines of the bag without exposing the components, or mixture thereof, to the hands ofthe user.

This invention further contemplates a compartmented bag assembly having a compartmented bag that is adapted for packaging two components that may be mixed within the confines or" the bag comprising: a substantially flat closure or bag of flexible material of any suitable shape; a transverse dividing line separating said bag into two compartments; each of said compartments having an opening, said compartments being adapted to be filled with their respective component through their respective openings and to be sealed thereafter; a core member extending substantially the full transverse distance across the bag; a removable clamp substantially coextensive in length with said core member engaging said core member over an effective clamping portion of said core and clamping a section of said bag adjacent said transverse dividing line over said core member to form a tight seal between said compartments; and a relief strip venclosed between the bag and the clamp and extending an effective distance along said clamp and outwardly of said clamp on both its sides whereby the clamp may be stripped from' the bag or package by` pulling on opposed ends of the relief strip.

The term component refers to material that may contain one or more constituents and thus includes any material that is to be retained in the compartments of the bag and mixed within the confines of the bag upon the removal of the -clarnp member from its clamping position.

In the accompanying drawings, in which a few of the various embodiments of the invention are illustrated:

Figure l is a perspective view of our sealed package 2,756,874 Patented July 31, 1956 ICC bag between one embodiment of a removable clamp and core;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the package illustrated in Figure l in an unfolded position. The compartmented bag is shown in the foreground and the relief strip is shown extending beyond the extremities of the bag;

Figure 3 is a fro-nt elevational View of the package shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the package on line 4-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view, similar to Figure 4, illustrating a second embodiment of a removable clamp and core;

Figure 6 is a plan View of a portion of our package and .illustrates a second method of securing the bag between the clamp and core members shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4. The segmented lines A, B, C, and D show the position of one of the compartments of the bag prior to being folded along the line E to the superimposed position A', B, C' and D. The bag (at E) is then again folded over the core member in the direction of the first fold along the line F';

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the portion of the package shown in Figure 6 and shows the bag immediately prior to being folded along the line F over the core member. The line E represents the rst fold and the segmented line E is the line upon which E will be placed after being folded over the core member; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view, similar to Figures 4 and 5, showing said second method of securing the compartmented bag between the clamp and core members that are illustrated in Figures l, 3 and 4.

and illustrates one manner of securing the compartmented The substantially flat bag 3 may be of any suitable shape and is preferably formed from seamless tubing of flexible, preferably transparent or translucent, sheet plastic material such as polyethylene, ethyl cellulose, Pliofilm (a transparent film made from chlorinated rubber), cellulose acetate, Saran (high molecular weight vinylidene chloride materials such as exemplified in U. S. Patent No. 2,160,931), Vinylite (polymerized vinyl compounds), Mylar (terephthalic acid-ethylene glycol polymer), etc. The bag is divided into compartments 1 and 2 by folding or placing the bag between the core and removable clamp members, such as shown in the enlarged sectional views of Figures 4, 5 and 8. A component (30 and 31) may be retained in each of said compartments.

The core member, preferably made of resilient material such as Tenite, rope, cellulosic matter and the like, extends substantially the full transverse distance across the bag and a removable clamp which is substantially coextensive in length with said core member engages said core member over an effective clamping surface and clamps a section of the bag over said core member to form a tight seal between the compartments 1 and 2. The removable clamp member may be constructed of resilient materials such as aluminum, spring steel and the like. The transverse distance 6-7 across the rectangularly-shaped bag 3, as shown in Figure 2, is less than the length of the bag. However, if desired, the transverse dividing line and/or clamp and core member may extend across the longest dimension of the bag. In addition, the bag may be of any suitable shape or contour.

The removable clamp 2t) shown in Figures l, 3, 4 and 8 extends over a major portieri of the core 12 and the edges 21 thereof exert suicient pressure to hold the package 11 as a unit.

The removable clamp 22 and core 13 shown in Figure 5, although not one of our preferred clamp and core embodiments, is illustrative of one of the alternative clamping structures that may be employed in our package. The up-turned edges 23 of the clamp 22 pinch or clamp the bag to the complementary elongated indentations 1,4 in the core 13. The edges 23 and indentations 14 may extend along the entire length of the clamp and core, respectively.

The pressure exerted by the clamp member should be sufficiently great so as to permit machine packing of the package; the clamp should not readily slip off during fabrication of the package, compartmented bag or prior to its removal by the user. The relief strip 10, which serves as a protective barrier, permits the user to remove the clamp from the bag by puling on opposed ends of the strip, and prevents the bag from being ruptured in the process of removing the clamp from the package, is positioned between the bag and clamp, extends an effective distance along the length of the clamp member and extends outwardly of the clamp on both its sides so that the clamp may be readily stripped from the package by pulling on opposed ends of the relief strip. The relief strip should have a high tear strength and may consist of heavy paper such as kraft paper and the like, suitable fabric, etc.

In Figures 1-5, which illustrate one manner of securing the bag to the core and clamp members, the core member is placed on one side of the bag so that it transversely extends across the bag; the bag is folded over the core so that the resulting equal or unequal compartments are in an adjacent superimposed position as shown in Figure 1. This fold constitutes the transverse dividing line. The relief strip is positioned on the second or other side of the bag and is folded in the direction of the rst fold so that the bag is positioned between the core and relief strip. The clamp is slipped over the relief strip so that it clampingly engages the core member over an effective clamping portion of the core and at the same time secures a portion of the bag and relief strip to the core.

Figures 68 show a second method of folding the bag over the core member. As shown in Figure 7, the bag is folded at the transverse dividing line at E so that the transversely divided compartments are in adjacent positions. The core member is then positioned adjacent the line of said fold at F'; the fold line E may then be folded over the core to the segmented line E. After this second fold, the bag will assume the position shown in solid lines in Figure 6. The relief strip and clip are positioned over a section of the bag and core, as shown in Figure 8, so that the bag and relief strip are sandwiched between the-clamp and core members.

In each of the aforesaid methods of securing the bag to the core and clamp members, the core and clamp members vmay be of any suitable configuration, such as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5; and, in addition, the clamp engages "the core and thus clamps a section of the ba'g adjacent the transverse dividing line.

In addition to the herein described package, our invention includes a compartmented bag assembly having a compartmented -bag with an opening into each of said compartments through which the components may be inserted into their respective compartment. After the insertion of said components, the bag may be heat-sealed or sealed with a suitable adhesive or sealing means. Pli'oiilm and tpolyethylene exemplify some `of the materials A'that may be heat-sealed. Figure 2 shows la bag wherein lthe Yends 8 and k9 of the bag 3 were heat-sealed at 4 `and 5, respectively. If desired, the bag may he provided with suitable opening(s) along the side edges ,or any other suitable position.

In 'order to permit convenient and rapid mixing of the components, it is desirable not to fill the compartments to their full capacity. It is also desirable to exclude air, especially major quantities thereof, from the interior of the'bag or compartments. In addition, the bag may be dividedinto ,moreV than two compartments.

The 'above-described compartmented bag assembly may be 'utilized-to 'retain or package the desired components,

For example, one compartment may retain dimethyl p-toluidine plus methyl methacrylate monomer while the other compartment retains benzoyl peroxide plus methyl methacrylate polymer. Obviously, other resin components, catalysts, promoters, etc. may be packaged in our compartmented bag.

If desired, dental impression materials may also be retained in the compartmented bag in a manner similar to that which will be hereinafter described.

In the last decade, dental impression materials of the gel-forming or alginate type have come into general favor with dentists. The alginates depend upon a chemical reaction for their setting and, therefore, the various ingredients utilized in the impression composition cannot be sold in their combined or nal form. Either water must carefully measured out and added to the remaining ingredients, or Water must be added to one ingredient or group of ingredients and the other ingredients retained dry and added to the aqueous ingredients. The present invention contemplates the use of pastes, each containing water and having substantially the same viscosity, maintained within a common bag but in separate portions thereof so that the dentist or other user of the impression material may carry on all of the impression-forming operations without adding any additional material to the enclosed ingredients and, at the same time, without exposing the enclosed ingredients to the atmosphere, the hands of the user or any implement. Thus, there is no opportunity for adding too much or too little material, no requirement for a mixing vessel or mixing instrument which must be cleaned, and no opportunity for con-V tamination during mixing.

One compartment of the compartmented bag may contain a part of the impression material or gel-forming component which will be referred to sometimes as the alginate paste, while the other compartment contains a composition which will be referred to as the reactant paste. It is preferred that the two compositions be retained in as nearly a square area as possible so as to permit ease in mixing.

In order to mix the materials, one of the compositions is squeezed by the hands into the other, preferably working from opposite corners in alternation until the material has been thoroughly and rapidly mixed. The normal time limit on a dental impression material is about one minute and if the bag is filled too full or not full enough, proper mixing will not be secured within that time. As will be hereinafter pointed out, we prefer to use a dye in at least one of the components so that the amount of mixing will be well shown by the color of the components. Any unmixed portion will show either `too much or too little color. The yalginate paste and l'eactant paste are maintained apa-rt by the clamp and core members.

The composition of the two portions of the impression material is of great importance. The final impression material must include the following:

It 'is obvious that ythe reactant and the retarder cannot be incorporated in the sarne aqueous composition. It `is likewise apparent that the alginate cannot be tin'- eluded in an aqueous composition which includes the reactant. Likewise, the amount of water must be :exactly ycor-rect to form the final impression 4material :and the viscosites -of the two compositions `'should 'fbe not only substantially alike, but not substantially different than the final viscosity of the mixture.

One of the preferred compositions comprises an alginate paste having the following composition:

1600 gms. water.

4 gms. methyl parasept (a mold inhibitor).

25 gms. tetrasodium pyrophosphate (commercial), a

retarder.

100 gms. potassium alginate. The preferred material is that having a viscosity of 400 centipoises and sold as 400 cps. potassium alginate. v

250 gms. diatomaceous earth, a liller,`preferably that sold under the name, HyFlo Supercel. This filler is included to give the necessary viscosity to this paste.

.8 gm. carmine 40, a dye.

This material has substantially the same viscosity as the desired mixture ready for dental use.

The second paste, which we term the reactant paste` and which has substantially the same viscosity as the alginate paste, has the following preferred composition.

` The last-mentioned composition is adapted for a container 3 x 6 inches-that is, made up of a double thickness of polyethylene, each sidewall having the size 3 x 6 inches.

This is a continuation-in-part application of application Serial No. 269,881, led February 4, 1952, now abandoned.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

l. AV package for mixing two components comprising: a substantially flat bag having two compartments separated by a transverse Adividing line extending across the width of the bag; one of said components in each of said compartments; a core member extending substantially the full width of said bag; a removable clamp substantially coextensive in length with said core member engaging said core member over an effective clamping surface and clamping a section of said bag adjacent said transverse dividing line over said core member to form a tight seal between said compartments; and a relief strip enclosed between the bag and the clamp and extending an effective distance along said clamp and outwardly of said clamp on both its sides whereby the clamp maybe stripped'from the package by pulling on opposed ends ot' the relief strip.` l 2. A package as set forth in claim l wherein said core member is resilient.

'3. A package for mixing two components comprising:` a substantially at bag having two compartments separated by a transverse dividing line extending across the lwidth of the bag; one of said components in each of said compartments; a core member extending along the entire length of said line on one side of said bag; a removable clamp on the opposite side of the bag along the entire length of said line enclosing the bag and said core to provide a tight seal thereon extending across the width of the bag, said clamp being adapted for rapid removal from the package; and a relief strip enclosed between the bag and the clamp and extending an effective distance along said clamp and outwardly of said clamp on both its sides whereby the clamp may be 6 stripped from the package by pulling on opposed ends of the relief strip. l

4. A -package as set forth in claim 3 wherein said core member is resilient.

5. A package for mixing two components comprising: a substantially at bag having a return fold intermediate the ends of the bag, said fold extending across the width of the bag to form a transverse dividing line that separates the bag into two compartments; one of said components-in each of said compartments; a second return fold adjacent said line, said second fold extending =across the width of the bag and around a core member which extends substantially the full width of the bag; a removable clamp substantially coextensive in length with said core member engaging said core member over an effective clamping surface and clamping a section of said bag, adjacent said transverse dividing line and adjacent said second fold, over said core member to form a tight seal between said compartments; and a relief strip enclosed between the bag and the clamp and extending an effective distance along said clamp and outwardly of said clamp on both its sides whereby the clamp maybe stripped from the package by pulling on opposed ends of the relief strip.

6. A compartmented bag for packaging two cornponents that are to be mixed within the bag comprising: a flat tubular bag of flexible sheet material; a transverse dividing line extending across the width of the bag and forming two compartments within said bag, each of said compartments having an opening through which a component may be `added to its respective compartments; a core member extending substantially the full width of said bag; a removable clamp substantially coextensive in length with said core member engaging said core member over an effective clamping area and clamping a section of said bag adjacent said transverse dividing line over said core member to form a tight seal between said compartments; and a relief strip enclosed between the bag and the clamp and extending anetfective distance along said clamp and outwardly of said clamp on both its sides'whereby the clamp may be stripped from the package by pulling on opposed ends of the relief strip.

.7. A compartmented bagfor packaging two *components that are to be mixed within the bag comprising:` a at tubular bag of llexible sheet material; a transverse dividing line extending across the width of the bag and forming two compartments within said bag, each of said compartments having an opening through which a component may be added to its respective compartment; a core member extending along the entire length of said line on one side of said bag; a removable clamp on the opposite side of the bag along the entire length of said line enclosing the bag and said core to provide a tight seal thereon extending across the width of the bag, said clamp being adapted for rapid removal from the package; and a relief strip enclosed between the bag and the clamp and extending an effective distance along said clamp and outwardly of said clamp on both its sides whereby. the clamp may be stripped from the package by pulling on opposed ends of the relief strip.

8. A compartmented bag for packaging two components lthat are to be mixed within the bag comprising: a hat tubular bag of ilexible sheet material open at each of its ends; a transverse dividing line extending across the width of the bag and forming two compartments within said bag, each of said' compartments being adapted to be filled with their respective components through their open ends and to be sealed thereafter; a core member extending substantially the full width of said bag; a removable clamp substantially coextensive in length with said core member engaging said core member over an effective clamping area and clamping a section of said bag adjacent said transverse dividing line over said core member to form a tight seal between said compartments; and a relief strip enclosed between the bag and the clamp and extending an `elective distance along said clamp andoutwardlyof said clamp on both its sides whereby the clamp may be stripped from the package by pulling on opposed ends of the relief strip.

9. A compartmented bag as set forth in claim S wherein said core member is resilient.

10. A compartmented bag for packaging two components that are to be mixed within the bag comprising: a at tubular bag of Hexible sheet material open at each of its ends; a transverse dividing line extending across the width of the bag and forming two compartments within said bag, each of said compartments being adapted to be lled with their respective components through their open ends and to be sealed thereafter; a core member extending along the entire length of said line on one side of said bag; a removable clamp on the opposite side of the bag along the entire length of said line enclosing the bag and said core to provide a tight seal thereon extending across the width of the bag, said clamp being adapted for rapid removal from package; and a relief strip enclosed between the `bag and the clamp and extending an effective distance along said clamp and outwardly of said clamp on both its sides whereby the clamp may be stripped from the package by pulling on opposed ends of the relief strip.

l1. A compartmented bag as set forth wherein said core member is resilient.

12. A compartmented bag for mixing two components that are to be mixed within the bag comprising: a flat tubular bag of flexible sheet material having a return fold intermediate the ends of the bag, said fold extending across the width of the bag to form a transverse dividing line that separates the bag into two compartments; each of said compartments having an opening through which a component may be added to its respective compartment; a second return fold adjacent said line, said second fold extending across the width of the bag and around a core member which extends substantially the full width of the bag; a removable clamp substantially coextensive in length with said core member engaging said core member over an effective clamping surface and clamping a section of said bag, adjacent said transverse dividing line and adjacent said second fold, over said core member to form a tight seal between said compartments; and a relief strip enclosed between the bag and the clamp and extending an effective distance along said clamp and outwardly of said clamp on both its sides whereby the clamp may be lstripped from the package by pulling on opposed ends of the relier' strip.

13. An impression material package comprising: a substantially flat bag having two compartments separated by a transverse dividing line extending across the width of the bag; one of said compartments containing a paste comprising a gel-forming component and the other cornpartmentcontaining a paste comprising a material capable f reacting with said gel-forming component to form an elastic gel; a core member extending substantially the full width of said bag; a removable clamp substantially coextensive in length with said core member engaging said core member over an effective clamping surface and clamping a section of said bag adjacent said transverse dividing line over said core member to form a tight seal between said compartments; and a relief strip enclosed between the bag and the clamp and extending an eifective distance along said clamp and outwardly of said clamp on both its sides whereby the clamp may be stripped from the package by pulling on opposed ends of the relief strip.

in claim l0 14. An impression material package as set forth in claim 13 wherein the'eore member is resilient..

15. A package comprising: a substantially flat bag hav` ing two compartments separated by a transverse dividing line extending across'the width of the bag; each of said compartments containing a component of a polymerizable mixture so that a polymerizable mixture results when said components are mixed within the package; a core member extending substantially the full width of said bag; a removable clamp substantially coextensive in length with said core member engaging said core member over an effective clamping surface and clamping a section of said bag adjacent said transverse dividing line over said core member to form a tight seal between said compartments; and a relief strip enclosed between the bag and the clamp and extending an effective distance along said clamp and outwardly of said clamp on both its sides whereby the clamp may be stripped from the package by pulling on opposed ends of the relief strip.

16. An impression material package comprising: a substantially at bag having two compartments separated by a transverse dividing line extending across the width of the bag; one of said compartments containing a paste comprising a gel-forming component and the other cornpartment containing a paste comprising a material capable of reacting with said gel-forming component to form an elastic gel; a core member extending along the entire length of said line on one side of said bag; a removable clamp on the opposite side of the bag along the entire length of said line enclosing the bag and said core to provide a tight seal thereon extending across the width of the bag, said clamp being adapted for rapid removal from package; and a relief strip enclosed between the bag and the clamp and extending an eective distance along said clamp and outwardly of said clamp on both its sides whereby the clamp may be stripped from the package by pulling on opposed ends of the relief strip.

17. An impression material package as set forth in claim 16 wherein the core member is resilient.

18. A package comprising: a substantially ilat bag having two compartments separated by a transverse dividing line extending across the width of the bag; each of said compartments containing a component of a polymerizablc mixture so that a polymerizable mixture results when said components are mixed within the package; a core member extending along the entire length of said line on one side of said bag; a removable clamp on the opposite side of the bag along the entire length of said line enclosing the bag and said core to provide a tight seal thereon extending across the width of the bag, said clamp being adapted for rapid removal from package; and a relief strip enclosed between the bag and the clamp and extending an .effective distance along said clamp and outwardly of said clamp on both its sides whereby the clamp may be stripped from the package by pulling on opposed ends of the relief strip.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,603,207 Huston Oct. 12, 1926 2,023,919 Duvall p Dec. l0, 1935 2,052,158 Zink Aug. 25, 1936 2,357,339 Mathieu Sept. 5, 19,44 2,397,144 Molnar Mar. 26, 1946 2,477,912 Vallandigham Aug. 2, 1949 2,566,122 Denison u Aug. 28, 195,1 2,601,568 Sussenbach et al. June 24, 1952 

